Second String Mk.3 - Away

Former Spurs players move in packs and end up reuniting at different clubs. We have recently played, and beat, two of our former reserve teams in Fulham and Pompey (albeit we bought half of them back from the south). Next up is the northern branch of Spurs' hand me downs who don the red and white stripes of Wearside. Ex-Spurs players currently in the Sunderland squad include Fulop, (Soon to be ex) Hutton, Steed, Reid, Campbell and Bent.

Rumours are also circulating that Sunderland are looking to increase their Spurs contingent and recent reports have stated that Bruce is after the likes of Bentley and O'Hara in one of those 'Multi-pack' deals they are so fond of. Levy must love it when Niall Quinn calls him up as invariably he knows the Irishman is more than willing to part with his cash for our cast offs. God can only hope that they don't wise up to the fact that we're selling them players we don't need anymore because they are not good enough as opposed to being drawn to the northern lights and loose birds. Can't see Bentley and O'Hara leaving but a double swoop for Keane and Jenas in the summer may not be too wide off the mark.

Anyhoo, moving onto more pressing matters than Sunderland’s interesting recruitment policy there's a game coming up. A massively important game.

The Stadium of Light is never a nice place to go to and often our southern softies have gone all a little limp when coming up against them in previous seasons. I can't remember the last time we went to Sunderland and got a result, however we need to push that mentality to one side. Past form needs to be forgotten.

This game must be plonked into the 'must win' category. If we are going to be staking a serious claim for Champions League then we need three points. City have just as tough a run in as us and we play them to decide our fate however it's Liverpoo’ giving me this chilling feeling of a sweaty Benetiz's hot breath and goatee bristle on the back of my neck. We need to re-affirm our distance from the scouser’s and establish the seven point gap we previously held over them. That alongside our goal advantage should keep the scouse bastards at arms length during our difficult April.

Sunderland do worry me though. Not a panicked worry, more a niggle that with so many former players they're bound to have 'one of those games'. Also Craig Gordon has been in good form and we're overdue a world class performance from a distinctly average goalkeeper.

My unnerving paranoia aside, we shouldn't feel too apprehensive over the quality of our opponents. They looked a team whose season was up at Anfield and hopefully they will provide the same 'roll over and tickle our bellies' performance for us. Obviously home advantage should see more urgency from the Black Cats however if we impose ourselves early and get an early goal we should be safe.

Bent will be the main threat, purely based on that he badly, badly, BADLY wants to score against Harry. If he somehow manages to shin one in his celebrations and subsequent Twitter posts of absolution will be unbearable. I can picture him running up to Harry full pelt and booting a pre-prepared life size cardboard cut out of Sandra Harry's face. It speaks volumes of Bents needs recognition that he’s better than a middle aged woman so hopefully the desperation will see him fluff his lines again. Wouldn't mind seeing another penalty save from Gomes...mmm.

Awesome Dawson has been passed fit and JD has been pencilled in to make his return. It's been a quiet week and no more of our players managed to break down over the course of the week. This may be because we’ve got a handle on the injury crisis and we should see more players returning. More likely it's because last weekends game against Pompey proved to be little more strenuous than a leisurely stroll. Hopefully we can get more players back and available for the challenges that await in April.

Either blind faith or genuine belief see's me predicting a sixth straight win for Spurs in what I'd imagine will be a tight game. Sunderlands home form is good but we have the quality to beat them. Lose this and we put pressure on ourselves, win and the pressure cranks up for Pool and City. We can’t afford to show any weakness. We need to show we have the quality to do this.

Christ I’m getting jittery